Children engaging with nature in a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Photo by Mary Phillips

Our children have the ability to connect with nature through individual exploration and imagination in our Certified Wildlife Habitat. I often enjoy watching my children playing outdoors and seeing what new things they discover and build such as a treasure-filled sand pit, an elf house/toad house, and a homemade fort! Nature has sparked the imagination of my children as well as my friends’. Help your children and grandchildren engage with nature through these key essential elements of enchantment:

Engage the Senses

Create a space such as a Certified Wildlife Habitat that engages the senses of sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch. Wildlife garden habitats can be children’s discovery gardens offering areas that not only stretch imaginations, but muscles as well. Physical activity can be accomplished through digging, building, rearranging or climbing areas. Children can be active locating a hollow log or brush pile to create shelter for rabbits and birds.

In gardens or other outdoor areas, native aromatic plants like bee balm or purple anise hyssop combined with herbs like rosemary, thyme, dill, and lavender are good for pollinators and children. Additionally, fragrant herbs, brightly colored edible flowers like nasturtiums, textured plants like lambs ear, rustling grasses and wind chimes all add to the sensory experience.

Invite Surprise

Have ways to attract native wildlife to your garden. A key element for wonder is the anticipation of finding a special guest in the garden. To ensure this, make sure the garden is a sustainable habitat that invites in nature. Wildlife is attracted to gardens that provide a habitat of food, water, cover and places to raise young. Using native plants, natural compost and no chemicals can help you maintain a healthy environment where your children can play and have an important effect on the health of the soil, air, water and habitat for native wildlife. Eastern box turtles, toads, baby bunnies, moles, chipmunks, woodpeckers, hawks, deer, monarch butterflies and many different types of colorful birds are all possible visitors that can be found in Certified Wildlife Habitats.

Allow Time

Provide children time to discover enchantment. Creating a wildlife garden near you allows for easy access to a safe space for children to explore without an agenda. Molly Dannenmaier’s A Child’s Garden: Enchanting Outdoor Spaces is a good resource for how to incorporate nine elements in your garden: water, creatures, refuges, dirt, height, movement, make-believe, nurture and learning. Dannenmaier provides instructions for making simple structures, such as tunnels made from living willow, vegetable caves, hiding places made from vine arbors, topiaries, sculptures and living screens. Water features and more complex designs are described for those having more space and bigger budgets.

Invite children to make the area their own by asking them what they want in the space. Encourage them to pick out a statue, make a toad or mason bee house, and decorate plant labels, stepping stones or other art to personalize their wildlife garden.

Start small; help your children find safe places to explore and create. Leave some trees with low hanging branches, less than two feet off the ground where children can hide and be in their own secret world. Personalize the yard by helping children pick out and plant a tree or shrub that they can name. Give them areas where they can explore the terrain and make a mess.

Wonder and curiosity abound in creating discovery spaces such as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. These wildlife gardens, be it in your own yard or a nearby community green space, can provide habitat for butterflies, birds, bees, and other wildlife near your home. Wherever you and your children create a safe wildlife garden to play, the essential elements of enchantment are the same.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2015/03/essential-elements-to-add-to-your-wildlife-garden/feed/0Nature Play Coming to Every Communityhttp://blog.nwf.org/2014/09/nature-play-coming-to-every-community/
http://blog.nwf.org/2014/09/nature-play-coming-to-every-community/#commentsTue, 09 Sep 2014 15:41:05 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=100123Read more >]]>Every parent who has ever watched a child play in nature has cause to rejoice. NWF’s guide Nature Play & Learning Places: Creating and Managing Places Where Children Engage with Nature shows how to design and manage nature play areas and bring them to children in every community.

A nature play area at Silver Falls State Park in Oregon. Photo credit: Michelle Mathis of Learning Landscapes

One of the nature play areas featured in the guide is at Silver Falls State Park in Oregon, a nature play area designed around a wildlife habitat theme. The play area is a quarter-mile loop of adventure pods. Children can climb a tree, growl like a bear, hide out in a cougar’s den, weave a bird’s nest, and look for tracks. “From the beginning of the design process Oregon Parks and Recreation Department wanted this to be a nature inspired space for kids,” said Michelle Mathis, designer of the nature play area and a contributor to the guide. “So often we are asking families to drive to a park, hike to look at the park’s beautiful scenery, then walk back (while leaving no trace). One of the main goals of the design was to create opportunities for sensory engagement with nature. We wanted to create a lasting bond between the kids and the park.”

A Chance for Kids to Reconnect Nature

Nature Play & Learning Places is a project of the National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Learning Initiative at the College of Design, North Carolina State University. The guidelines draw from principal author Robin Moore’s extensive landscape design experience, case studies of 12 existing nature play areas across the country, and the contributions from the members of a national steering committee and a technical advisory committee, which consisted of representatives from more than 20 national organizations.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2014/09/nature-play-coming-to-every-community/feed/1Climate Change Really Bugs Wildlife http://blog.nwf.org/2014/08/climate-change-really-bugs-wildlife/
http://blog.nwf.org/2014/08/climate-change-really-bugs-wildlife/#commentsTue, 19 Aug 2014 14:25:17 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=99278Read more >]]>Who doesn’t love spotting a moose in the wild? Or the satisfaction of a successful garden harvest? Or catching a fish on a beautiful summer’s day? These outdoor experiences are fundamentally important in our lives but are being threatened by climate change. The National Wildlife Federation’s new report, Ticked Off: America’s Outdoor Experience and Climate Change, looks at how warmer temperatures, stronger storms, and changes in habitat are impacting life outdoors. But it’s not just you and I who are upset— climate change is bugging wildlife too.

Moose

With longer summers and shorter winters, the winter tick is on the rise. Winter ticks threaten moose, as moose can be infested with thousands of winter ticks at a time. These ticks latch on to the moose, causing anemia, hypothermia, and weight loss, which can all lead to death. This latest winter, 64% of moose calves studied in New Hampshire died from winter ticks.

Mice and Ground Nesting Birds

Fire ants are a nuisance for humans but can be deadly for wildlife. Fire ants bite and sting, injecting venom into their prey. Ground nesting birds, as well as lizards, snakes, mice and other young species are at risk of attack. The fire ants are benefiting from warmer temperature and by the end of the century their range could advance northward by about 80 miles, spreading further into Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia.

Fish

Due to excess runoff and extra nutrients making it into the waterways, harmful algal blooms are popping up all over. These blooms threaten our drinking water, outdoor recreation activities, and fish populations. Fish need a habitat that is just right in order to thrive. With increased algal blooms, oxygen is depleted from the water, creating a “dead zone” where fish cannot survive. Warmer water temperatures are also threatening fish populations as species like the walleye, yellow perch and bluegill, which are sensitive to warmer water and struggle to adapt.

Squirrels and Chipmunks

Invasive stink bugs are a pest that are common in the Eastern United States. These bugs are a pain in our homes but especially in our gardens, where they will often attack garden harvests. Two wildlife species that are mad about this new competition are squirrels and chipmunks. With stink bugs ruining vegetables, there are few tomatoes left for the squirrels and chipmunks to steal!

The Next Generation of Wildlife Enthusiasts

Climate change is increasing pests and making some of our favorite outdoor activities more dangerous. Annoyances like the deer tick or poison ivy can quickly make a positive day in the outdoors a negative experience. Outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, wildlife watching, gardening and so much more are being impacted by climate change. We all want to have safe and vibrant outdoor experiences, and continue the sense of conservation and love of wildlife that has been an American tradition.

Climate change is bringing stressful new changes to the outdoor world, and without proper actions, conditions will only worsen. The Clean Power Plan is smart action proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency to help get us on the path towards a cleaner energy future. These first-ever limits on carbon from power plants, the nation’s single largest source of carbon pollution, will help to protect our outdoor spaces and wildlife species so that we call can enjoy the outdoor experience.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2014/08/climate-change-really-bugs-wildlife/feed/0Weekly News Roundup: It’s Pollinator Week and more!http://blog.nwf.org/2014/06/weekly-news-roundup-its-pollinator-week-and-more/
http://blog.nwf.org/2014/06/weekly-news-roundup-its-pollinator-week-and-more/#commentsFri, 20 Jun 2014 19:33:12 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=97294Read more >]]>This week marks National Pollinator Week! Take the time to learn about the many different pollinating animal species that pollinate our crops and wildflowers. Pollinators such as the bumble bee, hummingbird, bats and the moth all play a crucial part of the forest ecosystem. If you happen to come across one this weekend, snap a picture and if it’s inspiring, submit it to this year’s National Wildlife Photo Contest for your chance to win!

In other news, we are only eight days away from our tenth annual Great American Backyard Campout! For those of you who have registered, you’re awesome! If you haven’t, register today and help NWF reach its goal of getting more than 200,000 people to camp outdoors!

What’s happening at the National Wildlife Federation this week?

NWF Awarded $2.9 Million Grant to Restore Massachusetts’ Great Marsh

June 17 – The future of New England’s largest contiguous estuarine system is more certain today thanks to a $2.9 million restoration grant awarded to the National Wildlife Federation. The Department of Interior funded grant will enable the Great Marsh Resiliency Partnership, a coalition of conservation groups and federal, state and local agencies, to protect coastal communities along the North Shore of Massachusetts from storms and flooding by strengthening the resiliency of the ecological systems upon which those communities depend.

Approximately 533 students and 23 faculty along with invited guests were present at the Green Flag event on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at Earth’s Magnet School, 2626 Michael Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320.

“The report, published by the National Wildlife Federation and Natural Resources Council of Maine, outlines the risks Canadian tar sands development poses to migratory birds. More than 292 species of protected birds rely on the boreal forest for breeding habitat, including the endangered whooping crane, and at least 130 of those are threatened by tar sands development.”

“The aggressive, fast-growing invasive carp — which appear to fly out of the water serving as not only a concern to native fish but a boating hazard as well — are now at the verge of invading the Great Lakes, the National Wildlife Federation reported.”

“The National Wildlife Federation yesterday announced it received a $2.9 million restoration grant from the federal Department of the Interior. The money will be used for a variety of projects — among them importing sand to shore up dunes, planting dunegrass, ridding the marsh of invasive non-native plants, and studying the ebb and flow of sand along the beaches and through the marsh.”

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2014/06/weekly-news-roundup-its-pollinator-week-and-more/feed/0Weekly News Roundup: Migratory Birds at Risk and morehttp://blog.nwf.org/2014/06/weekly-news-roundup-migratory-birds-at-risk-and-more/
http://blog.nwf.org/2014/06/weekly-news-roundup-migratory-birds-at-risk-and-more/#commentsFri, 13 Jun 2014 16:48:26 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=96841Read more >]]>Canadian tar sand developments are impacting North American migratory birds, according to a report released Wednesday by National Wildlife Federation and our state affiliates. As the report details, these harmful mining and drilling practices are taking place in the heart of habitat for hundreds of species, turning bird breeding ground into a wasteland. To protect wildlife, we need to take a step forward with clean, wildlife-friendly energy, and reject pipeline projects like Keystone XL!

A common loon in breeding plumage, photo by Gary Lackie.

In lighter news, did you know this Sunday marks Nature Photography Day? For those of you who love the beauty of the outdoors and wildlife, step outside on this lovely Sunday and celebrate Nature Photography Day! After you’ve taken some great nature pictures, submit them to this year’s National Wildlife Photo Contest for your chance to win!

“We at National Wildlife Federation and Eco-Schools USA are proud of the example set by Flint Hill Elementary for Fairfax County, Virginia, other schools, and the country at large,” said Laura Hickey, senior director of Eco-Schools USA. “This award demonstrates not only a commitment to sustainability and environmental literacy for students and faculty, but an appreciation that the best, most effective education transcends the classroom and offers a hands-on approach to learning.”

Since 1895, the Association of Education Publishers has encouraged and advocated for professional, quality content for teaching and learning. Each year, they scour the nation for the most outstanding educational publications, websites, and materials (paper, online, and curricula) of the year.

NWF welcomes governors’ support of efforts to conserve sage-grouse

June 12 – During its annual meeting Wednesday, the Western Governors’ Association passed a resolution supporting “all reasonable management efforts” to conserve greater sage-grouse, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has said is in danger of going extinct. The agency will decide by 2015 whether to add the bird to the Endangered Species List.

NWF release told the world, “As the Council moves from planning to implementation, it should work with Louisiana to achieve the vision set forth in its Coastal Master Plan. A vibrant Gulf of Mexico starts with a strong Mississippi River Delta.”

The N.C. Wildlife Federation and National Wildlife Federation recently hosted a “Wildlife Habitat and Networking Roundtable” in Huntersville. The speakers pointed out that North Carolina wildlife, from freshwater fish like trout to migratory birds to coastal animals like sea turtles, are all under threat from climate change.

“Unchecked tar sands development is turning a vast, irreplaceable breeding ground into a toxic wasteland,” said National Wildlife Federation Senior Counsel Jim Murphy. “Many of the birds Americans watch, enjoy and hunt fly to and rely on this area. The Canadian Government has vowed to protect these birds, but it is turning a blind eye.”

“We all know things we can personally do. But the biggest change will come from policy changes,” said David Muth, with the National Wildlife Federation’s Mississippi River Delta Restoration Program.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2014/06/weekly-news-roundup-migratory-birds-at-risk-and-more/feed/0Weekly News Roundup: Great American Backyard Campout Quickly Approaching and morehttp://blog.nwf.org/2014/05/weekly-news-roundup-great-american-backyard-campout-quickly-approaching-and-more/
http://blog.nwf.org/2014/05/weekly-news-roundup-great-american-backyard-campout-quickly-approaching-and-more/#commentsFri, 30 May 2014 16:00:13 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=96289Read more >]]>With June only a couple of days away, that leaves our Great American Backyard Campout only a couple of weeks away! This year, we are aiming for 200,000 people to join our Campout! Have you pledged to campout this year? If you haven’t, take the time to pledge today!

What’s happening at the National Wildlife Federation this week?

House Leaders Target Wildlife with Steep Cuts

May 29 – “This bill is a blatant attempt to rollback many of the hard-won gains for wildlife in the Farm Bill, supported by 251 members of the House and signed into law just three months ago,” said Aviva Glaser, Senior Specialist for Agriculture Policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “Instead of building off the success of the Farm Bill, this funding measure takes us two steps back. Programs to conserve wildlife and boost our rural economies cannot achieve success unless given the full funding promised in the recently passed Farm Bill.”

In the Great Lakes region, federal conservation efforts will focus on reducing harmful algal blooms that are caused when manure and excessive fertilizer flow off of farm fields and into rivers, streams and the Great Lakes. Toxic to people, pets, and wildlife, algal blooms can close beaches, kill fish, harm drinking water supplies, and hurt local businesses.

U.S. to Host IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2016

May 22 – The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) today announced that it has selected the United States to host the 2016 World Conservation Congress (WCC). After a lengthy selection process, the IUCN has chosen Hawai’i as the site of the next WCC, making 2016 the first time a U.S. location will host the conference since the IUCN’s founding in 1948.

“This is truly an historic moment for the U.S., for Hawai’i and for conservation globally,” said Les Welsh, National Wildlife Federation’s Associate Director for the Pacific. “It also represents a huge opportunity to bring the world’s attention to Hawai’i’s rapidly disappearing native flora and fauna, and to the many important climate and conservation issues we face throughout the Pacific.”

“Our nation’s kids are out of shape, tuned out and stressed out, because they’re missing something essential to their health and development – a connection to the natural world,” said Kevin Coyle, vice president for education and training for National Wildlife Federation. “We applaud Congressman Kind and Senator Mark Udall for introducing legislation to reverse this trend by getting kids and families outside on a regular basis.”

“If you’re committed to maintaining a habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, you can apply for wildlife habitat certification (and the associated bragging rights) through the National Wildlife Federation. Even planting a small area of pollinator-friendly plants may provide critical refueling for some migrating butterfly or bird, or a hard-working bee, so plant and then sit back and enjoy.”

“We don’t want to stop navigation by any means whatsoever. We are trying to keep the public safe,” said Melissa Samet, senior water resources counsel for the National Wildlife Federation, a plaintiff along with the Prairie Rivers Network, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, River Alliance of Wisconsin, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance and the Minnesota Conservation Federation.”

“Adam Kolton, with the National Wildlife Federation, said the bill didn’t do enough to “sort out the beneficial projects from the boondoggles.” He said it also “hurts taxpayers again by increasing subsidies for the already heavily-subsidized navigation industry.”

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2014/05/weekly-news-roundup-great-american-backyard-campout-quickly-approaching-and-more/feed/0An Exciting Day for Kids and Nature Policyhttp://blog.nwf.org/2014/05/an-exciting-day-for-kids-and-nature-policy/
http://blog.nwf.org/2014/05/an-exciting-day-for-kids-and-nature-policy/#commentsThu, 22 May 2014 20:22:22 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=96139Read more >]]>Yesterday, just in time for Great Outdoors Month, Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) and Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) have introduced the Healthy Kids Outdoors Act. This is a huge step forwards for getting kids and families outside! NWF and the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) are thrilled to see this exciting progress on federal policy to connect kids and nature.

Our Children’s Lives are Out of Balance

Children enjoy outdoor time in Florida in this donated image by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant William Chitty.

Children today spend less time outdoors than any generation in human history, devoting just minutes a day on average in unstructured outdoor play while spending an average of seven and a half hours every day in front of electronic media. Obesity and attention deficit disorders are on the rise. And, if we don’t take steps to reconnect children and families with nature, our conservation legacy and the $646 billion outdoor recreation economy are at risk. Research has shown that a direct experience with nature before the age of 11 promotes a long-term connection to nature. Getting kids outside is critical to both improving our children’s health and nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards.

The Healthy Kids Outdoors Act will improve our children’s health, support economic growth and strengthen the future of conservation in America by reconnecting our children, youth and families with the natural world through innovative state strategies that connect communities with green spaces, provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, and engage the health community in educating parents and caregivers about the benefits of active time outdoors.

The legislation would:

Provide state-level incentives to develop 5-year state strategies to connect children, youth and families with the natural world. State strategies are developed jointly by agencies and partners in public health, parks and recreation, transportation, and other sectors to create innovative solutions and support community-based initiatives at the local level

Direct the President to develop a similar strategy at the federal level by bringing together federal agencies and national partners to create a national action plan

Support research documenting the health, conservation, and other benefits of active time spent outdoors in the natural world.

Want to help? Urge Members of Congress to cosponsor the Healthy Kids Outdoors Act by signing your organization on here.

What’s happening at National Wildlife Federation this week?

March 18- The Obama Administration has selected Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, manager of Education and Advocacy Programs in National Wildlife Federation’s Atlanta office, as one of 14 White House Champions of Change for her outstanding work in engaging the next generation of conservation leaders.

Na’Taki Osborne Jelks’ recognition comes from her initiative to develop and lead NWF’s Atlanta Earth Tomorrow® Program a multi-cultural, environmental education and leadership development program that creates opportunities for youth from underserved communities to develop environmental literacy and life skills that help them make valuable contributions to the ecological health and leadership capacity of their communities.

“Through the Earth Tomorrow Program, I have been fortunate to work with a number of talented youth leaders who care about the future of our planet and who take action to protect and restore it for current and future generations,” said Na’Taki Osborne Jelks. “I am awed by their passion and creativity and inspired by the transformations that I have witnessed in participants that propel them from the realization that there are pressing conservation challenges in their communities to engaging their peers, parents, and decision-makers in taking action for change.

“The Clinton Administration was one of the greatest for the environment in the modern era,” said Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “We’re honored to award President Clinton for his body of conservation achievements that he, the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative have accomplished over many years. President Clinton’s huge wins include protecting many of America’s public lands and resources, reducing pollution, and combating climate change.”

For more details on attending the 2014 Conservation Achievement Awards, visit this link.

Kreil said the department has programs aimed at improving deer habitat, but can’t make up for the loss on its own. The new federal farm bill should help, he said. The legislation allocates nearly $58 billion for conservation programs over the next 10 years, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

“We can restore elements of habitats in cities and towns by what we plant in our gardens,” said Mizejewski, who is regularly featured on talk shows and morning news programs. “You don’t need a ton of land and it doesn’t matter where you live or how much money you have. You can be doing good things.”

“You all have become student leaders, taking on this program,” Emily Fano, of the National Wildlife Federation, told a roaring gymnasium of fifth-graders last week at a celebration of the award. “It’s not easy to be a Green Flag school. It takes a lot of hard work.”

National Wildlife Week, an annual event organized by the National Wildlife Federation to promote education about and connect kids to wildlife, starts today, March 17, and runs through March 23. This year’s theme is wildlife and water

“We have a new version of ‘March Madness’: Extreme weather fueled by climate change, deeper droughts, and intensifying wildfires,” said Doug Inkley, senior scientist and lead author, in a news release.

What’s happening at National Wildlife Federation this week?

National Wildlife Week, March 17-23, Celebrates “Wildlife and Water: From the Mountains to the Rivers to the Oceans”

March 14- National Wildlife Federation (NWF) will be helping children dive into the fun of the 76th annual National Wildlife Week, March 17-23. Families, youth organizations, and communities will be coming together to celebrate the many ways water helps sustain wildlife and enhance the environment.

With a theme of “Wildlife and Water: From the Mountains to the Rivers to the Oceans,” NWF will provide resources for families, schools, individuals and organizations to participate and will highlight the critical impact that water resources have on wildlife by showcasing ways wildlife are connected to water. These resources include a poster, educational webinars, lesson plans, activities, event-planning tips, and a calendar of events. Visit www.nwf.org/wildlifeweek to learn more.

America’s Grasslands Conference: The Future of Grasslands in a Changing Landscape was held in Manhattan, KS from August 12-14, 2013. To work together to conserve American grasslands and the wildlife that depend on them, the conference brought together around 225 biologists, policy experts, ranchers, federal and state agency staff, graduate students and conservationists.

“This is yet another reason any tar sands project in Northern New England is far too risky,” said Jim Murphy, senior counsel at the National Wildlife Federation’s Northeast Regional Center. “As we saw with the tragic tar sands oil disaster in Mayflower, Arkansas, last year, these old pipelines can and will fail. It would be utterly irresponsible to try to pump impossible-to-clean-up tar sands through a pipe the company itself admits is past its retirement date and that crosses some of New England’s most sensitive wildlife habitat.”

We have a new version of ‘March Madness’: Extreme weather fueled by climate change, deeper droughts, and intensifying wildfires,” said Dr. Doug Inkley, senior scientist with the National Wildlife Federation and lead author of Mascot Madness. “From wolverines to gators, species that have spent countless centuries adapting a home court advantage are now watching the rules of the game changed before their eyes by industrial carbon pollution. If we’re going to turn climate change into a Cinderella story, we need to act now.”

“We at National Wildlife Federation and Eco-Schools USA are proud of the example set by the students and teachers at the NYC iSchool,” said Emily Fano, New York City outreach manager for NWF’s Eco-Schools USA program. “The Green Flag award places the iSchool among an elite group of schools across the country that are improving their schools by reducing energy costs and waste, greening school grounds, and nurturing student-scientists through hands-on learning.”

NWF in the news:

Jan Goldman-Carter, a lawyer who works with the National Wildlife Federation on water issues, said the proposals outlined regulatory exemptions that have been in place for decades for plowing, planting, harvesting and maintaining drainage ditches.

“We have a new version of ‘March Madness’: Extreme weather fueled by climate change, deeper droughts, and intensifying wildfires,” says Doug Inkley, National Wildlife Federation senior scientist and lead author of “Mascot Madness”.

“I want to encourage you to look at the National Wildlife Federation report, match it up with those brackets, see those species that are in danger because of our changing climate,” she said, noting that she would be taking her own advice. “I can’t wait to dig through the report and actually compare the dangers to those mascots to my brackets come Sunday.”

If you’re looking for a journey outside the city, the Teaching Garden at Union County Agricultural Center in Monroe showcases plants and trees that grow well in the local area. The garden is also designated as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

In late March or early April, a warm rain will fall and spotted salamanders will emerge from underground in the evening to return to vernal pools to breed. This phenomenon is known as “Big Night,” and it’s a great teaching moment for kids.

But first, a word of caution. In writing a recent column about vernal pools, I learned that Big Night is a bit of an exaggeration. Spotted salamanders and other species that reproduce in vernal pools don’t all migrate on a single night, and weather conditions can make the migration quite different year to year. “It doesn’t really happen all at once, but the phrase ‘Big Night’ generates interest and it’s easy to say,” said vernal pool expert Jacob Kubel, a conservation scientist with the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. “I say it myself.”

With that in mind, here are some ways to help kids understand vernal pools and the animals that depend on them:

Read Big Night for Salamanders, by Sarah Marwil Lamstein. This wonderful picture book, illustrated by Carol Benioff, was a Smithsonian Notable Book for Children 2010. It describes how a boy and his parents help salamanders cross a busy road on a rainy night, so they can mate and lay eggs in a vernal pool. While educational, the book is also a good story that is engaging for children. My daughter (age 4) immediately wanted to go out and help too. The author’s website has a downloadable classroom guide.

Connect with experts and enthusiasts. Join an organized vernal pool activity, such as a family workshop or walk, through nonprofit groups like Mass Audubon, which maintains anonline calendar of events. Get a field guide to the animals of vernal pools and learn much more through the Vernal Pool Association, an educational group based in Massachusetts that encourages the appreciation, protection, and interdisciplinary study of vernal pools, particularly by students. The association maintains a website, blog, Facebook page, and listserv.

Visit a known vernal pool. Some vernal pools are certified and marked. In the Minute Man National Historical Park, which spans the towns of Lexington, Lincoln, and Concord, Mass., the Vernal Pool Trail is a short spur trail near the parking lot by Hartwell’s Tavern. In Amherst, Mass., two tunnels were built under Henry Street in the late 1980s so that frogs, toads, and salamanders can reach a nearby vernal pool safely. You can read more about the Amherst tunnels on this Federal Highway Administration page and see a short video onMassLive.com.

Look for signs of vernal pools on your hikes. This is a great game for a young detective. If it is spring, listen for an odd quacking sound in the woods—it’s the courtship call of male wood frogs. Wood frogs are one of the species, like spotted salamanders, that gather in vernal pools to reproduce. Kubel also recommends looking for depressions in the earth that might hold water and noticing any concentration of shrubs such as winterberry in the forest understory, which may indicate the presence of a wetland.

Go out with a flashlight on Big Night. Once you know where vernal pools are in your region, you can head out on the first rainy night in late winter or early spring when the temperature rises to 40 degrees or so. Spotted salamanders should be starting their trek, and you and the kids may be lucky enough to spot them—or even help them across the road. Remind the kids to get their hands damp before picking up spotted salamanders, to help the salamanders’ skin remain moist.

Be Out There

NWF’s Be Out There movement is excited to partner with the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Kids Outdoors online community to help more kids and families explore the outdoors! By sharing ideas and resources through guest blogs, we’re working to bring more nature into children’s lives.

About the Author

From 2007 to 2012, Heather Stephenson led the AMC team that creates books, maps, videos, a print and online magazine, and blogs to encourage people to enjoy—and protect—our natural world. This article originally appeared on AMC’sKids Outdoors in March 2014.